Panasonic RF-D10EB review
Panasonic RF-D10EB-K DAB+/FM Portable Radio (4 x C or mains)
By Tom Calder
Panasonic's spec page is the useful thing here: about 40 hours of DAB (30 on FM) from four alkaline C cells, but only about 12 hours (9 on FM) from manganese ones, and Panasonic says its figures assume its own batteries. That makes it one of the better-documented battery sets on this page, with a 10cm speaker, a backlit two-line display and a fold-down handle. The costs are about 1.3kg with the cells in, C cells that few homes keep spare, and no crank, solar panel, torch or phone port. It runs from the mains too, so the cells only matter when the power is off.
- Best for
- A full-size DAB+ and FM set for a kitchen or a power-cut shelf that Panasonic rates for about 40 hours of DAB on four alkaline C cells, if you can live with the weight.
- Skip it if
- You want something light for a grab bag, or a phone top-up from the same device
as of 2 Nov 2026, 12:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Panasonic quotes about 40 hours of DAB and 30 hours of FM from four alkaline C cells
- DAB, DAB+ and FM in one set, with a 10cm speaker, a backlit display and a fold-down handle
- Also runs from the mains, with a battery level indicator and a play and sleep timer
Worth knowing
- About 1.3kg with cells in, and C cells are less likely to be in the house than AA
- Panasonic's DAB figure drops to about 12 hours on manganese cells; no crank, solar panel, torch or phone port
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Our review
Panasonic's RF-D10EB is a full-size DAB+ and FM radio that runs from the mains day to day and from four C cells when the power goes. Panasonic's own figure is about 40 hours of DAB from alkaline cells. It suits a kitchen or landing shelf where one radio does both jobs, if the weight and the C cells don't put you off.
What it is
A mains-or-battery portable from Panasonic's home audio range. It receives DAB and DAB+ on Band III and FM from 87.5 to 108 MHz, with ten direct preset keys on the front, a two-line backlit display, five EQ settings and a sleep and play timer. Sound comes from a single 10 cm full-range speaker rated at 2 W, and there is a 3.5 mm headphone socket and a fold-down carrying handle.
On the mains it draws about 7 W from a 230 to 240 V supply. Off the mains it takes four C (R14 or LR14) cells, and a battery level indicator shows when they are running down. Panasonic gives the size as 251 by 138 by 91 mm and the weight as about 1 kg without cells and 1.3 kg with them.
In a power cut
The battery figures are the reason this set is on our list. Four alkaline C cells give roughly 40 hours on DAB and 30 on FM by Panasonic's reckoning, dropping to around 12 and 9 hours on cheaper manganese cells, and says the figures assume its own batteries. Buy alkaline for the spares drawer: the difference is more than threefold.
Because it lives on the mains, the cells only work when the grid is down, so a set of four can sit in the radio for months. Check them now and then, because a leaking cell can damage the battery contacts. The government's Be Ready checklist asks for an FM radio, battery or wind-up, for a three-day kit, and our guide to radios in a power cut explains what to tune to. Note that the checklist says FM: this set has it, so you are not relying on DAB alone.
The limits
This is a home radio that happens to run on batteries, not an emergency radio. There is no hand crank, no solar panel, no torch and no USB port to top up a phone, and Panasonic lists no water or dust rating. At 1.3 kg with cells it is a radio for a shelf, not for a grab bag.
C cells are the other catch. Most homes keep AA batteries, and fewer keep C, so you need to buy a dedicated set and keep it with the radio. DAB also needs a usable signal; if reception is weak where you live, the FM band is the fallback, at the shorter battery life Panasonic quotes for it.
How it compares
Among the battery sets on our emergency radio comparison, the Roberts Play 20 runs on four AA cells and can charge NiMH rechargeables inside the radio, which suits a household that already keeps AAs. The Philips TAR1609 is the opposite approach: AM and FM only, but with a crank, a solar panel and a torch built in. The Panasonic sits between them as the most conventional choice, with one of the longest published DAB run times on the page. Pocket sets for a grab bag are on the battery radio page.
Our verdict
If you want one radio that earns its place in the kitchen every day and keeps working through a long cut, the RF-D10EB is a sensible, well-documented choice, provided you buy alkaline C cells and keep them with it. If you need a radio to carry, or one that can recharge itself, look at a crank or pocket set instead.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Panasonic UK: RF-D10EB-K specifications; GOV.UK Be Ready: emergency checklist.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want something light for a grab bag, or a phone top-up from the same device. The Roberts Sports 925 weighs about 150g on two AA cells, and the Philips TAR3500 has a USB-A port and AAA backup, though neither has DAB.
Key specs
| Power sources | 4 x C cells (alkaline or manganese) or mains lead |
| Bands | DAB/DAB+ and FM, 10 direct preset keys, backlit LCD |
| Phone charging | No |
| Built-in torch | No |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A rugged home or shed radio: IP55, a user-replaceable battery Philips rates for up to 60 hours, a phone-charging port and four AAA cells as a fallback.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 12:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for The plain 'battery radio' answer to the GOV.UK kit list: a pocket FM/AM set from a UK radio brand that runs for days on two AA cells and has little to go wrong.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 12:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A tough household radio that can top up a phone from its own cell and keep going from the crank or the sun, if FM and AM are enough.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 12:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
How long do the batteries last in the Panasonic RF-D10EB?
With four alkaline C cells, Panasonic's figures are around 40 hours on DAB and 30 on FM; manganese cells give around 12 and 9 hours. Panasonic says the figures assume Panasonic batteries, so other brands may differ.
Can it charge rechargeable batteries?
Panasonic's specification lists DC 6 V from four C cells and makes no mention of charging rechargeables in the radio. If you use NiMH C cells, charge them in a separate charger.
Can I charge my phone from the RF-D10EB?
No. It has a headphone socket but no USB output. Keep a charged power bank for the phone alongside it.
Is it worth having a DAB radio for emergencies?
It can be, if DAB reception is good where you live, but the government's Be Ready checklist asks for an FM radio. This set has both bands, so FM is there if DAB drops out.
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